Starting a Bootstrapped Business for $300

boot·strapp·ing

Definition: To start up an enterprise, especially one based on the Internet, with minimal resources. (credit: Google)

Many new entrepreneurs make the mistake of spending a lot of money to start their business. That doesn’t make sense. Bootstrapping a business in the digital age is extremely easy. You can launch a new product business for just $300 if you have the right idea and use the proper resources. Here are my favorite tools to launch a company with no experience and little money.

I don’t know how to make a website…

Shopify | https://www.shopify.com
I’ve tried all the different e-commerce platforms and Shopify is by far the best bang for your buck for selling a large variety of products. It has great customer support, only a moderate learning curve, and reasonable monthly rates. Shopify has the best mix of ease of use while also offering tons of flexibility and power. With that being said, it is terrible for blogging. Use SquareSpace if you want to focus on blogging.

I don’t know how to make a logo…

Fiverr | https://www.fiverr.com/
Almost every possible task related to starting a business is available on Fiverr. Did I mention that each job is only $5? Well, not actually… once you include all your add-ons, tasks can usually get closer to $20. With that being said, Fiverr is my go to place to get my graphic design work done cheaply.

I don’t have enough time…

Upwork | https://www.upwork.com/
Get freelancers for everything! They can do your writing, graphic design, photography, website, social media management, and anything else you can think of. Upwork has an excellent system for categorizing your potential freelancers by skill set, language, country, and more. I hire all my workers from Upwork except logo designers. Upwork is a part of my daily work flow! I love it for delegating repetitive tasks, laborious tasks, and outsourcing work that I have no idea how to do.

I’m not artistic…

Canva | https://www.canva.com/
The most popular online graphic design app. They have a user-friendly interface that utilizes tons of pre-made templates. It lets you make professional looking graphics without a graphic designer.

I don’t know how to make anything…

Alibaba | https://www.alibaba.com/
The king of manufacturer directories. You don’t need anything else if you’re looking for an overseas manufacturer.

Redbubble | https://www.redbubble.com
If you’re selling graphic t-shirts, mugs, posters, or cellphone cases with your own designs, Redbubble is the best place to start. They have the cleanest interface and excellent quality.

I don’t have enough money…

Kickstarter | https://www.kickstarter.com
It’s next to impossible to get a business loan these days, much less a favorable one. Well, forget about loans and get your startup capital through crowdfunding.

Crowdfunding explained: In practice, you post a video of your idea on Kickstarter or Indiegogo, asking for money to fund a product. You promise a gift or product to each person who pledges money. For most campaigns, you set a monetary goal. If you reach that goal, you will be considered “funded” and get all the money that you raised. You get no money and no one is charged if you don’t meet your goal.

So, no excuses. Get started on your business idea right now! If you need more help, check out my entrepreneurship course for nurses at TheNurseStartup.com

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Meet Brian

A bit more about me: a serial entrepreneur, national speaker, product consultant, and nurse. I’ve backpacked from Tokyo to London, work as a pediatric magician, know how to ride a unicycle, and enjoy foods in tortillas.Read more…